Old Lexington depot bring people back to town

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LEXINGTON, N.C. -- The old depot in Lexington is helping bring back to life a part of town that died with the furniture industry.

The depot is being used as a Farmers Market on Saturday's between May and October and during the holidays and in turn bringing lots of people to town.

“My grandfather opened [Southern Lunch] right beside the depot in 1925,” says Herd Lohr who has run the restaurant since 1981.

The business saw a sharp decline in customers when Lexington Home Brands closed in the early 2000's. But since the farmers market started in 2006 Lohr says they are seeing new faces.

“Lot of first timers come in -- they hear about the farmers market – and then they come see us on Saturday morning. It gives a little life to the area,” he said.

This weekend the depot will again be transformed into the Harvest Market selling everything from cool seasonal vegetables to Christmas trees.

“We can hold 35 vendors in here and no space is left – which means it's going to be a full house, a lot of variety of product here on Saturday,” said Amy-Lynn Albertson with the Davidson County Cooperative Extension.

Town leaders hope the depot will also help bring the area more attention in the coming year. “Lexington is working toward a passenger rail stop that will hopefully come in 2015.”